Retired cop charged after allegedly fondling teacher in classroom during school hours

Bruce A. Figular, a 50-year-old retired cop and Toms River resident has been indicted for allegedly entering a school while it was in session and fondling a teacher.File photo

TOMS RIVER — A retired police officer has been indicted on charges he walked into a school while it was in session, identified himself as a state trooper and fondled a teacher in an empty classroom.

Bruce A. Figular, a 50-year-old Toms River resident, was indicted Friday on charges of third degree aggravated criminal sexual contact, third degree burglary and fourth degree impersonating a law enforcement officer , according to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.

He was released on a $50,000 bail with no 10 percent option.

Al Della Fave , a spokesman for the prosecutor's office, said Figular walked into a Toms River intermediate school at about 2 p.m. on Jan. 14 through an open door.

When confronted by a school employee , he identified himself as an active state trooper, quickly flashed a retired police ID and asked “is this good enough ?,” Della Fave said.

Once inside the school , Figular made his way into a classroom and fondled a teacher whom he allegedly knew, Della Fave said.

There were no students in the classroom at the time of the incident, but classes were in session in nearby rooms, he added.

Figular was an officer with the Marine Police before that department was absorbed by the New Jersey State Police, Della Fave said. He continued to work in the Marine Law Enforcement Bureau, but did not go through the State Police Academy.